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Abstract
This paper is a study based on the implementation of a new concept in AUTOMOBILE which will help in improving the directional
stability and handling characteristics of vehicle. The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of position of CENTRE OF
GRAVITY of a vehicle in its stability in accordance with YAW MOTION, ROLL MOTION, UNDER STEER and OVER STEER.
The concept is to implement a mechanism which can bring SHIFTING OF C.G in automobile, as per the conditions. The influence
of position of C.G is much bigger for the balancing of forces in dynamic stability of the vehicle. The concept of moving C.G will
help to acquire this added stability to the vehicle even in the worst conditions.The directional stability of a vehicle is influenced by
the steering angle and slip angle of the tire to an extent. It is possible to have a variation in these values by the shifting of CG. The
designing of a convenient mechanism which helps in achieving the movement of the mass (either by pumping a high density fluid
or my movement of a solid block by mechanical linkage) is to be done and have to be tested in a real time vehicle. Before proceeding
to the practical level of the concept, validation of the idea based on theoretical aspect has to be done. For this, a dynamic simulation
is to be done with the software MATLAB.
Keywords: Shifting of CG, directional stability, handling characteristics
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I. INTRODUCTION
Background
The development achieved so far in the field of automobile industry is remarkable. Among the various factors such as performance,
fuel efficiency, stability etc, the vehicle stability is having the highest importance in the current scenario. There are a lot of factors
that affect the stability of a vehicle, like aerodynamics, geometry, mass specific, moment specific, tire specific, roadway specific,
driving techniques and so on. In the present situation, the Centre of mass, which have a significant effect in the stability of the
vehicle, is considered to be fixed. Slight variation in the position of CG may arise due to the change in load because of the weight
of passengers. A shift in the position of CG could in effect control the handling characteristics of a vehicle. Properties such as
understeer, oversteer, and neutral steer are explaining the stability of a vehicle during its dynamics. These mentioned properties
are found to have direct relationship with the position of CG, tyre properties and slip angle. Hence a variation in the position of
CG could in effect bring a controlled vehicle movement in any maneuver and at any speed.
Idea Generation and Screening
Centre of gravity can be assumed as a point where whole of the mass of the body may be assumed to be concentrated. By the
implementation of the Concept of Moving Centre of Gravity in vehicle, we are trying to improve the directional stability and the
handling characteristics of the vehicle. There are a lot of forces acting on a vehicle during its motion. The force balancing is the
phenomenon which brings adequate stability during driving. Handling characteristics of a road vehicle are concerned with its
response to steering commands and to environmental inputs affecting the direction of motion of the vehicle such as wind and road
disturbances. There are two basic problems in vehicle handling: one is the control of the vehicle to a desired path, the other is the
stabilization of the direction of motion against external disturbances. In most of the extreme cases, the balancing of forces is done
by control of the brake force. If a moving centre of gravity is possible to be implemented in a vehicle, the braking constraints can
be held apart and better stability can be achieved. It is made possible by altering the slip angle and stiffness coefficient of tyre
which directly involves the directional stability and are parameters that determines whether the vehicle is in oversteer, understeer
or neutral steer condition.
Concept Testing
In this project, the effect of the C.G location in a vehicle during its dynamics is analyzed by dynamic simulation. The required
hand calculations that define the effect of position of CG will be done by the available standard equations regarding vehicle
handling and dynamic stability. The simulation will be carried out by using the dynamic analyzing software MATLAB, which is
a powerful tool that can be effectively used for this purpose. The shift of an additional weight and its effect in bringing a change
to the position of CG is analyzed. A mechanism which can impart a change in the position of C.G by the movement of a mass is
to be designed which can be an effective way to improve the stability of vehicle by the concept of moving Centre of gravity.
II. OBJECTIVE
Automobile is one of the fast developing and highly advanced field in the world and automobile manufacturing giants are in an
urge to capitalize the field with hi tech inventions that aids the performance and safety of the vehicle. Having a distinguish with
the performance and safety of the vehicle, it is always the safety that leads in front. The main objective of this project is to introduce
a new concept in automobiles which may have a great influence in the vehicle handling characteristics and directional stability.
The various phenomenon such as yaw motion, roll, pitch, understeer, oversteer that defines the stability of a vehicle are in direct
relation regarding the position of CG of the vehicle. As far as concerned, no recognizable studies have been conducted with a
concept of a moving centre of gravity in a vehicle. This project aims in analyzing the effect of CG and the various advantages that
can be accomplished by implementing a moving centre of gravity which can be controlled as the required conditions and terrain.
By incorporating a real time monitoring and controlling system, the proposed method, if successful, can be implemented in the
future super vehicles.
5) In the area of control for interchangeable platforms, air suspension systems are an excellent basis for cost-effective loading
and unloading of containers.
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
A tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is an electronic system designed to monitor the air pressure inside the pneumatic
tires on various types of vehicles. TPMS report real-time tire-pressure information to the driver of the vehicle, either via a gauge,
a pictogram display, or a simple low-pressure warning light. TPMS can be divided into two different types – direct (dTPMS) and
indirect (iTPMS). TPMS are provided both at an OEM (factory) level as well as an aftermarket solution. The target of a TPMS is
avoiding traffic accidents, poor fuel economy, and increased tire wear due to under-inflated tires through early recognition of a
hazardous state of the tires.
Due to the influence tire pressure has on vehicle safety and efficiency, tire-pressure monitoring (TPM) was first adopted by the
European market as an optional feature for luxury passenger vehicles in the 1980s
Indirect Tpms
Indirect TPMS do not use physical pressure sensors but measure air pressures by monitoring individual wheel rotational speeds
and other signals available outside of the tire itself. First generation iTPMS systems are based on the principle that under-inflated
tires have a slightly smaller diameter (and hence higher angular velocity) than a correctly inflated one. These differences are
measurable through the wheel speed sensors of ABS/ESC systems. Second generation iTPMS can also detect simultaneous under-
inflation in up to all four tires using spectrum analysis of individual wheels, which can be realized in software using advanced
signal processing techniques. The spectrum analysis is based on the principle that certain eigenforms and frequencies of the
tire/wheel assembly are highly sensitive to the inflation pressure. These oscillations can hence be monitored through advanced
signal processing of the wheel speed signals. Current iTPMS consist of software modules being integrated into the ABS/ESC units.
iTPMS cannot measure or display absolute pressure values, they are relative by nature and have to be reset by the driver once
the tires are checked and all pressures adjusted correctly. The reset is normally done either by a physical button or in a menu of the
on-board computer. iTPMS are, compared to dTPMS, more sensitive to the influences of different tires and external influences
like road surfaces and driving speed or style. The reset procedure, followed by an automatic learning phase of typically 20 to 60
minutes of driving under which the iTPMS learns and stores the reference parameters before it becomes fully active, cancels out
many, but not all of these. As iTPMS do not involve any additional hardware, spare parts, electronic or toxic waste as well as
service whatsoever (beyond the regular reset), they are regarded as easy to handle and very customer friendly.
Since factory installation of TPMS became mandatory in November 2014 for all new passenger vehicles in the EU, various
iTPMS have been type-approved according to UN Regulation R64. Examples for this are most of the VW group models, but also
numerous Volvo, Opel, Ford, Mazda, PSA, FIAT and Renault models. iTPMS are quickly gaining market shares in the EU and
are expected to become the dominating TPMS technology in the near future.
iTPMS are regarded as inaccurate by some due to their nature, but given that simple ambient temperature variations can lead to
pressure variations of the same magnitude as the legal detection thresholds, many vehicle manufacturers and customers value the
ease of use and tire/wheel change higher than the theoretical accuracy of dTPMS.
Direct Tpms
Direct TPMS employ pressure sensors on each wheel, either internal or external. The sensors physically measure the tire pressure
in each tire and report it to the vehicle's instrument cluster or a corresponding monitor. Some units also measure and alert
temperatures of the tire as well. These systems can identify under-inflation in any combination, be it one tire or all, simultaneously.
Although the systems vary in transmitting options, many TPMS products (both OEM and aftermarket) can display real time tire
pressures at each location monitored whether the vehicle is moving or parked. There are many different solutions, but all of them
have to face the problems of exposure to hostile environments. The majority are powered by batteries which limit their useful life.
Some sensors utilize a wireless power system similar to that used in RFID tag reading which solves the problem of limited battery
life by electromagnetic induction. This also increases the frequency of data transmission up to 40 Hz and reduces the sensor weight
which can be important in motorsport applications. If the sensors are mounted on the outside of the wheel, as are some aftermarket
systems, they are subject to mechanical damage, aggressive fluids, as well as theft. When mounted on the inside of the rim, they
are no longer easily accessible for battery change and the RF link must overcome the attenuating effects of the tire which increases
the energy need.
The handling characteristics of the vehicle depend, to a great extent, on the relationship between the slip angles of the front and
rear tires, αf and αr.
Low Speed Turning
At low speed (parking lot manoeuvres) tires need not develop lateral forces. Tires roll with no slip angle and the centre of turn
must lie off projection of rear axle. Perpendiculars from front wheels pass through same turn centre.
The figure 6.1 given above shows the diagrammatic model of an automobile in steady state cornering. The steer angle for both
the tyres and the turning radius R is also shown together with.
High Speed Cornering
High speed cornering produces different equations with respect to low speed cornering. Tires must develop significant lateral
forces to counteract the lateral acceleration. Slip angles will be present at each wheel. Tire slip–angle is the angle between direction
of heading and direction of travel. Lateral or cornering force grows with slip angle.
Cα — cornering stiffness
Below about 5°, the slip relationship is linear. Positive slip angle produces negative force (to the left) on tire. Thus, Cα must be
negative. SAE defines Cα as the negative of the slope.
Cornering Stiffness Depends on Several Variables
Tire size, Number of plies, Tire type (radial or bias ply), Cord angles, Wheel width, Load, Tread design, Inflation pressure.
Speed not a strong influence on cornering forces produced by tire
V. STANDARD PLOTS
The figure 9.1 is the generated matlab model. As said earlier, it includes the unsprung system, sprung system, the world to
mention axis system and various forces acting on it including gravitational force, and two rear and front wheels each. The various
input parameters are given at this level for the need to do the analysis. Such part with parameters given and shown in block diagram
are given in the figures 9.2 and 9.3. The figure 9.3 combines all the inputs given together into one single unit, so that necessary
changes in the values for the parameters can be made.
Fig. 7: The generated system with incorporated parameters and necessary inputs.
Fig. 8: Combined car model with flow diagram prior to the simulation
Table – 3
Yaw velocity gain
Mass added 0 30 30 50 50
Shift of CG 0 0.0454 -0.0454 0.0714 -0.0714
Time
0 0 0 0 0 0
1 0.652708 0.745897 0.531233 0.824607 0.472516
2 0.510738 0.634868 0.376135 0.75804 0.319851
3 0.380279 0.48652 0.271691 0.598262 0.228186
4 0.297371 0.385036 0.209902 0.479552 0.175445
5 0.242687 0.316107 0.170294 0.396254 0.142009
6 0.204475 0.26723 0.143009 0.336216 0.119103
7 0.176441 0.231068 0.123154 0.291379 0.102487
8 0.155062 0.203344 0.108088 0.256805 0.089903
9 0.138247 0.181465 0.09628 0.229411 0.080053
10 0.124691 0.163781 0.086782 0.20721 0.072138
11 0.113537 0.149204 0.07898 0.188873 0.065641
12 0.104202 0.13699 0.07246 0.173485 0.060213
13 0.096278 0.12661 0.06693 0.160393 0.055612
14 0.089468 0.117682 0.062182 0.149123 0.051662
15 0.083554 0.109925 0.058061 0.139323 0.048235
16 0.078371 0.103122 0.054451 0.130723 0.045233
17 0.073791 0.097109 0.051263 0.123118 0.042582
18 0.069716 0.091756 0.048426 0.116346 0.040225
19 0.066066 0.08696 0.045887 0.110276 0.038114
20 0.062778 0.082639 0.0436 0.104806 0.036213
The table 10.2 is also a hand calculation done for calculating the yaw velocity gain with different CG position. The masses 30
kg and 50 kg are added. Also, the shift of CG to forward direction and backward direction are calculated for corresponding
movement of extra mass.
The yaw velocity gain Vs Time in seconds is plotted in the figure 10.1. The values taken are 30 kg and 50 kg mass added
separately and movement to forward and backward direction is considered. The graph gives a clear cut indication that, the
movement of CG have influenced in varying the yaw velocity gain. Movement of mass in forward direction increases the slope of
the curve, where as backward movement reduces the slope of the curve. According to the driving situation, whether a high velocity
gain is required, or a low velocity gain is required, it can be achieved by the shift of the extra mass to the suitable position.
The actual value of understeer coefficient for the considered vehicle specification is 0.269369803. The values can be obtained
from the figure 10.2. Since the understeer gradient is positive, the vehicle is in understeer condition. The effect of extra mass added
can be easily distinguished from the graph obtained. It can be seen that as the mass moves forward, the value of understeer
coefficient gets reduced. Also, the change in value is proportional to the magnitude of added mass. As the mass is shifted to
backwards, the value of understeer coefficient gets increased, which indicates that the vehicle gets further understeer property.
Normally vehicle with a slight understeer is preferred, because if the vehicle is having oversteer property, by chance the speed gets
passed critical speed, then sudden loss of stability occur and it may even result in drastic accidents. But, if the understeer value is
high than a particular limit, then the effort that must be given by the driver on the steering wheel will be very much high. Hence,
the understeer coefficient must be kept to an optimum value and, this concept, that is, shifting of CG , found to have an effect in
achieving the required value of understeer coefficient.
The effect of understeer coefficient is well observed from the XY plot given in the figure 10.3. This plot is obtained by
conducting constant steering angle test to the vehicle. The steering wheel will be locked to a particular steer angel, and the velocity
of the vehicle will be increased. For an understeer vehicle, the curve will appear to diverge, that is, the radius gets increase as
shown in the graph.
IX. CONCLUSION
The development achieved so far in the field of automobile is remarkable and most of the giant automotive industries are coming
up with new advanced techniques in order to improve the safety of the passenger. Most luxurious vehicles give their primary
concern not to the performance of the vehicle, instead, how reliable the vehicle is.
The concept that is being introduced in this project is to improve the handling performance and directional stability of vehicle
by implementing a moving CENTRE OF GRAVITY, so that various characteristics of the vehicle during its dynamics can be
controlled significantly. The steering and handling properties, that is, understeer, oversteer, yaw motion, curvature response, lateral
acceleration etc are found to be controlled effectively with the introduction of this concept. With further development and more
analysis and research, we can find and incorporate new innovative and promising method accompanied with this concept, such as
combining TPMS together with SHIFTING OF CENTRE OF GRAVITY, a better driving condition with more confidence to the
driver and also safety can be provided and hence the face of the automobile industry can be highlighted. There exist a practical
difficulty in incorporating a mechanism like this, and it seems to be the biggest problems that have to be the main concern regarding
this concept. The addition of extra mass will have other negative effects which are not considered in this project such as efficiency,
performance etc. But incorporating all these together, it would be a heavy task to be done to arrive at a conclusion. Since the project
showed a positive result in the analysis, with further studies and research in this topic, improved conditions can be achieved.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, we express our heartfelt gratitude to God almighty for being the guiding light throughout our project,
without whose intercession this project would not have been a successful one. We thank our parents for being a guiding light
and supporting me all throughout our life.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Principal Dr. M C Philipose and our Head of Department Dr. Sreejith
C.C for rendering all the facilities and help for the successful completion of our project.
We take this opportunity to express our sincere profound obligation to our guide prof. Sajan Thomas, Department
of Mechanical Engineering for his helpful suggestions and overall guidance throughout this project.
We are thankful to Er. Vineeth V K, Assistant Professor (Project coordinator), Er. Arun K Varghese, Assistant Professors,
who gave us an opportunity to present the project successfully. We would like to extend our gratitude to our friends who have
encouraged and supported me for the successful presentation of our project.
REFERNCES
[1] Dynamics of vehicles with high gravity centre by Dishank Bari & Ankit Wahane, University of Bielsko-Biala, Department of Mechanics, Willowa 2, 43-309
Bielsko- Biala, Poland
[2] A text book on Theory of Ground Vehicles by J Y WONG .
[3] Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics by Thomas D.Gillespie SAE.
[4] Numerical Effectiveness of Models and Methods of Integration of the Equations of Motion of a Car by Marek Szczotka, Szymon Tengler, and
StanislawWojciech,
[5] Understanding Parameters Influencing Tire Modeling by Nicholas D. Smith, Colorado State University, 2004 Formula SAE Platform